to enter into controversy with such persons? The very reverse. We almost invariably find, that when any persons came merely to catch him in his talk, or puzzle him with a difficulty, he either evaded the question, or refused to answer it altogether, or confounded them with some home thrust to their own consciences. Another thing to be observed is, that when his disciples, that is, those who were willing to learn from him, could not understand anything in his public teaching, they went afterwards privately to ask him. This example, no doubt, any Christian minister, as far as God enables him, would at all times be glad to follow.

But did not St. Paul, it is asked, argue publicly, when he preached in heathen cities? He did: but besides the fact of his being able to work miracles in proof of his doctrines, we must remember that he had no other way of preaching at all. If the laws of the country had afforded him a place where he could deliver his message, uninterrupted by the laughter of the Athenians, or the wild uproar of the Ephesians, no doubt he would have preferred it; and if ever the clergy should be deprived of their churches, where at present, thank God, they can preach his word, undisturbed by the gainsaying or mockery of opposers, they will then, you may rely upon it, fulfil their commission where and how they can. Their general reluctance to engage in public debate being so perseveringly paraded as a proof of conscious weakness, and the boasting challenges, which the knowledge of that reluctance gives birth to, having so much weight with ignorant minds, the subject appeared to require notice, and the above remarks will, it is hoped, show something of the real state of the case.

An important fact to be remembered in controversy is, that there is no such thing in the world as an unanswerable argument on any side of any question whatever,

religious or otherwise. An argument may be perfectly satisfactory and convincing to one who is willing to be convinced; but,

"He that's convinced against his will,

Is of the same opinion still;"

and bring forward arguments ever so many or ever so powerful, he is sure to find some answer to them; generally such a plausible one as to satisfy himself, and often to shake others, who are not able to see deeply into a subject. Unitarians make great boast of their being able to answer all the arguments that are brought against them. No doubt they can; so can the Atheist, the Deist, or Romanist. You cannot bring a single argument against either of the three, but what, if he is clever enough and determined not to give way, he will be able to get out of-and yet they can't all be in the right, The Christian should be aware of this, or else he is apt to be staggered and perplexed, when he finds very clever ingenious answers given to what had always appeared to him, and are in reality, conclusive proofs. Let him seek the Spirit's guidance, and he will assuredly be taught what is the mind of God in scripture; being satisfied of this, he cares not what other meaning may be put upon the words; he sees clearly what God did mean when he inspired the men to write them, and therefore he doesn't trouble himself to find out what they can mean. As far as everything necessary for him is concerned, "he has an unction from the Holy One, ́and knows all things."

A few expressions in the following Lecture may sound harsh and uncharitable, to the ears of some, who read them. The writer would beg such to suspend their judgment until they have read the Lecture on Latitudinarianism in Doctrine, when the subjects of bigotry and charity. will be fully discussed. Meanwhile he would only say, that, as far as his own disposition is concerned, he should

be naturally much more tempted to be unfaithful, from fear of causing any one pain, than to be unnecessarily severe in his language; and he is quite sure, it will be more painful to him to utter many things, which faithfulness to God, and faithfulness to souls compel him to utter, than it will be to any who hear them. What can be more distressing than to meet a man, virtuous, amiable, adorned with every outward quality to make one love and admire him,—and then to find that he is an unbeliever! How delightful, if one could think, that all such were journeying by different roads to the same heavenly home! One is almost tempted to envy an Unitarian the luxury of his doctrine of sincerity; but God's word forbids it, and we dare neither indulge ourselves with unscriptural hopes, nor cruelly flatter others, by saying “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.”

LECTURE I.

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."-REV. xvi. 13-15.

No intelligent student of prophecy can doubt, that we are just approaching the last crisis of the present dispensation. There are many differences of opinion, more or less important, with regard to the particular events, which may be expected shortly to take place; but all who know anything of prophecy are agreed, that these are the last days, and that a fearful tempest of physical and moral evil is ready to burst upon us, preparatory to the new millennial kingdom, which will quickly follow. In the book of Revelation especially we can distinctly trace the main outlines of the history both of the church and of the world from the time of the apostles to the present hour; our position being evidently under the sixth vial, the very period, when the great outbreak of evil mentioned in our text takes place. Time will not permit us to enter into a critical examination of the figurative terms made use of; suffice it to say, the three spirits are, 1st, Infidelity; 2ndly, Social and Political disorganization; 3rdly, Popery These are represented as issuing forth, under the direction of the Prince of darkness, to lash the world into a phrenzy of guilt and folly, to prepare the materials for one last convulsive struggle-a struggle which will be brought to a close in a way little expected, and by one little thought of: for it is when the storm is at its loudest, and the darkness at its thickest, that the Sun of Righteousness